President Uriah Anderson welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. PDG Harvey Smith provided the prayer.

Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.  The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." – Winston Churchill 

Today’s announcements: 

• Thanks to Lee Hieronymus for being our greeter today.
• Welcome today’s guests: Carol Kennard’s guest, Paul Stull, who happens to be the longest standing member of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club, and just published a new book of stories from his career as a veterinarian; Tim Depp returned and is interested in membership; and our exchange student, Micol. 

• Susan Schnell was here again and following the meeting, the Board approved her membership. Welcome back, Susan!
• October Rotary Social is the Sing Out Polio event at On Par in Beavercreek on Tuesday, October 27^th from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Gina is gathering “votes” (cash) ahead of time in case you are not able to attend. 
• November Social will be on the 18th at Midnight Bloom in Centerville.
• Photos were shared from Chuck King’s trip in Budapest and Prague.

Ron Hollenbeck presented Socks Bowersock with a Paul Harris Fellow+3. Thanks for your generosity, Socks!

Happy Bucks this quarter will go to the Fairy Godmother Foundation.

Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms.

Happy Bucks were generously given for:

• Pat B Gave thanks to the #1 Optimist club in the world which is right here in Centerville; and tonight Uptown Centerville businesses are hosting a trick or treat event.
• Adam M was happy for guests and Pancake Day
• Sofie A went to the Optimist Club on Tuesday and sold 14 pancake tickets!
• Susan S was happy to be here. 
• Gina S presented a crown to our Pancake King, Adam, noting the breakfast is always a fun time, and reminded all that her husband willing to sing for us at the Sing Out Polio event.

• Mark K for the good weather, bye week for OSU, today’s guests, and new members.
• Ron H spent the weekend in the hospital with pancreatitis, but is good now.
• Elda GG had a wonderful birthday.
• Lee H shared after his wife spent 3 weeks in the hospital, she is slowly gaining her strength back and we should see her at Pancake Breakfast. Today’s Farm Report was that although this is the driest we’ve been all summer, our rainfall is still 8” above normal. Grain is going to markets. soybeans have dark spot due to rain this year, but it is still fine. Pancake motto: Serve no cake before its time.”
• Tom A for the good weather.
• Brad H for the pancake committee, and Sofie’s shake down at the Optimist Club. Also, he had the parent/teacher conference for Micol, who received a glowing report. Bella signing up for Jr Optimist Club (as there is no Rotary club at that age)
• Carol K for her 44th wedding anniversary, and the surprise visit from Paul today.

• Uriah A was called in for budget cuts on Monday morning, only to learn he has received the Township Association Award of Excellence.

Our speaker today was Adam Manning, our Pancake King, sharing about this weekend’s fundraiser. 

Adam share this is the most fun time of the year—the Centerville Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast! Over the years, this beloved tradition has found a home in several locations, from the Spaghetti Dinner held where Meridian is today to breakfast gatherings at Epiphany Lutheran Church and Hithergreen Senior Center. Today, the event calls Centerville High School home.

While the location has changed, the mission remains the same: bringing people together while raising funds for scholarships and supporting community needs.

A Record of Generosity

This year’s fundraising efforts brought in $24,023.50 in total donations, including the combined funds from the golf outing. The Pancake Breakfast season alone raised $11,566—an impressive $2,023.50 increase over last year’s total!

These results would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors, the dedication of our volunteers, and the hard work of the planning committee.

A special thank-you to our sponsors and community partners:

• Camp Chautauqua, for ordering pancake batter for us at cost
• Carrabba’s, for coffee
• Lytle Grove for Marketing
• Minuteman Press for discounted printing
• RecPlex for storing event supplies

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, from sponsorships and public relations to Facebook advertising and behind-the-scenes planning.

Good Food Brings People Together

As chef Marco Pierre White famously said, “Good food is the basis of true happiness.”

That sentiment was at the heart of a presentation by Adam, who has spent the majority of his adult life in the food service industry, including 16 years at Carrabba’s. Through his experience and the mentorship of others, Adam learned the importance of camaraderie, teamwork, and taking pride in preparing and serving great food.

His presentation included videos featuring Marco Pierre White and offered a reminder of what makes the Pancake Breakfast so special: no matter how difficult a day may be, a good meal can bring people together. There is something wonderful about starting the day with a great breakfast and good friends.

Our goal is simple: serve an excellent product, provide outstanding hospitality, and make every guest feel welcome.

Getting Ready for Breakfast

With the event approaching, volunteers are encouraged to double-check their assigned shifts and arrive ready to help.

• Friday: Setup begins at 3 p.m.
• Saturday: Serving begins at 7 a.m. Please know your scheduled shift time.
• Meals: Plan to eat before or after your shift.

In the years before COVID, attendance reached approximately 1,000 people, and we may see another busy year. With Ohio State having a bye week, we could experience a later rush than usual!

Special guests Elsa, Anna, and Spiderman will add to the fun for families attending the event.

A Few Important Reminders for Volunteers

Our volunteers set the tone for the entire experience. Please keep an eye on your surroundings, check in with fellow volunteers, and make sure guests’ needs are being met. Just as importantly, welcome volunteers who are not club members and help them feel like part of the Rotary family.

If a guest has questions about food allergies, please direct them to Adam. Gluten-free options are not available.

To keep the focus on our mission and the community, active political campaigning is not permitted at the event. Political shirts and hats are acceptable, but individuals should not go table to table campaigning or distribute political materials. Please contact Adam, Lisa, or Uriah if any concerns arise.

Above all, let’s keep our attention on what brings us together: pancakes, fellowship, and service to our community.

The Centerville Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast is much more than a meal. It is a tradition built on generosity, teamwork, and a shared commitment to helping others. Every sponsorship, donation, and volunteer hour makes a difference.

Thank you to our committee, sponsors, volunteers, and community supporters for making this event possible. Together, we continue to make a meaningful impact—one pancake at a time!